Are you embarassed to be a truck driver

ya quit derailing the thread,lol.

 

I just graduated from Trucking School Friday. There was a wide range of people in my group... drivers getting back into it, a couple of wants to travel the country, guys who have various college degrees, two ex-bus drivers (me and another lady) who love to drive but will be happy not to have anyone screaming behind us. lol I, also, have a BA degree.

Why be embarrassed? It's just a job. It's a heck of a lot better then flipping burgers, and, personally, I think I'd die a slow death in some corporate type career.

 

You want social denigration? Tell your "upper middle-class" friends you just took a job as a security guard! (I'll wait while you react as most do)

I've got 18 years in this field, which puts me in the experience level of a lot of truckers on here, and I've always been proud of the job I do. I've always been especially proud, that I'm not one of those "jack-booted cop wannabe" types, or the "slacker-purposely-going-to-sleep-on-duty" types, that give us such a bad name.

All this, without even the benefit of a decent paycheck, like a trucker, lawyer or politician. Although, when I get "that look" I just tell people "...but at least I made 6 figures last year!" (which I did...If you count the two digits to the right of the decimal point!)

::Backstory::

When I was a kid, there was this episode of "The Brady Bunch" in which Peter was going through all these machinations, trying to be something/someone he wasn't, just to impress some girl.

All he succeeded in doing is impressing upon me, that I would never try to be anything other than who and what I am...for ANYONE. It became a foundation element of my psychological makeup for life!

Want to denigrate me more? I only have a HS diploma...Like I care.

 

When I see a driver such as the one who just pulled out from a few spaces over, I get embarrassed for them.

Unshaven, unkempt, flip-flops, and a truck that basically had it's bumper and fairings held on with bungees. Not to mention the mandatory never-have-been-cleaned mirrors and windows.

 

At age 60, I am looking to go into trucking this summer when the school year lets out.
Personally, I think my goals are inspired and noble. Some people -- especially other bus drivers here, seem amazed -- what? at my age? Yep! This will be my last career. I've done sales: car sales, life and health insurance sales, mortgage sales and various other areas of villified "sales".

I figure with trucking, I'll at least be able to look myself in the mirror and say "Well done good and faithful servant". Not so in past "jobs".

 

You just have to do what you enjoy and not worry too much about what other people think. I will admit though its an profession/industry that has been given a bad wrap and is a bit misunderstood among the general public.

 

I waited which seemed like forever to get old enough to start driving. Im so proud and tryin to be as professional as i should. as of now i enjoy most of everything related to this career. But being skinny and very young lookin( 23 years old but being told i look 18, maybe the Asian in me?) and also haveing a background of sky personality, i mostly have a shy feeling behind the wheel. Mostly while people are looking and staring at me in traffic or taking turns at the lights. But i do tend to get embarrassed also, i mean i don't fit into the average trucker look. Oh and parking at truck stops with what feels like everyone watching. I know its just something that's just gonna happen just like before i even thought of driving, u tend to look at a trucker as he passes because its a big object rolling. But i came to the point that, hey so what if people are lookin...your gonna pass them and never see them again. It helps but something always comes up. Oh and just don't look at people, just the car itself. Just thought i share my thoughts. Oh and those truckers that pass you on the highway only going little faster, how you gonna not look and say hi?

 

You will never be happy if you spend your life trying to please everyone else. You need to do what makes you happy. Life is very short. It is much too short to spend in a career that you detest. If you don't like being a trucker then find something else to do that you can enjoy. I can't imagine anyone being ashamed of driving a truck. It is an honest profession where you can earn an above average income. If it embarrasses you to call yourself a truck driver then you are in the wrong profession.

 

couldn't of said it better

 

Soooooooo, after reading all of this,
do you now have a new pride in what you do
And did ya ditch the gal that wasnt worth YOU?